GENERAL ITEMS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 June 1917, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS.

THE PRICE OF BUTTER. A PENNY ADVANCE. WHY? From the first of June the price of butter -has been increased one* penny per pound retail, and will remain at Is 8d for the next three months. This is in accordance with an Order-in-Council issued on the recommendation of the Board of Trade, under which the price was advanced one farthing per pound to storekeepers during the month of April, and another farthing for May and June. A further increase of one farthing per pound will take place for the months of July and August under this arrangement. The advance of one penny per pound retail from June will enable storekeepers to recoup the half-penny extra they have been paying which has not been passed on to the consumer for Apnil and May. The whole question surely needs consideration, for the regulations now in force were made before the present shortage of shipping space occurred or was anticipated. The extraordinary part of the business is that while the consumer has to pay Is 9d per lb. the cool stores are full of butter awaiting shipment, which opens in two months’ time. Thousands upon thousands of pounds’ worth of butter are stored in the Dominion, awaiting ships that come not, and yet it will not be liberated in order to satisfy local demand. It will be interesting to all, if in the face of the new developments regarding shipping, the Board of Trade will take any steps to vary the regulation, and by releasing certain quantities for Dominion consumption, ease the price slightly. By that means the congestion at the stores could be relieved and space made for the new season supplies, which will shortly be coming forward.